Alarmed by worsening environmental degradation threatening the Komadugu-Yobe Basin, government officials, environmental experts, community leaders, and other stakeholders have gathered in Damaturu for a one-day sensitisation workshop aimed at charting a path to rescue the region’s vital water resource.
The workshop, organised by the North East Arid Zone Development Programme (NEAZDP) in collaboration with the Centre for Environmental and Geographical Research (CEGRE), Yobe State University, seeks to address growing concerns over the ecological challenges facing the basin.
Speaking at the event, Yobe State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Sidi Yakubu Karasuwa, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, stressed the need for urgent and collective action to halt environmental degradation.
“This is not just about awareness; it is about action. We must work together to end degradation and protect our natural resources,” he said.
NEAZDP Programme Manager, Dr. Mulima Idi Mato, described the Komadugu-Yobe Basin as a critical lifeline stretching more than 200 kilometres from Nguru to Yunusari and sustaining millions of people through farming, fishing, and livestock production.
He warned that increasing siltation, riverbank erosion, flooding, and shrinking water levels—caused by both human activities and natural factors—are placing the ecosystem under severe pressure.
“The basin is facing serious environmental threats. That is why we brought together stakeholders from across the region to raise awareness and develop collective strategies to preserve this vital resource,” Mato said.
According to him, NEAZDP has intensified engagement with farmers, fishermen, herders, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders across nine local government areas to promote sustainable environmental practices.
Mato also revealed plans for a massive tree-planting campaign, disclosing that hundreds of thousands of seedlings have already been prepared for distribution ahead of the rainy season in partnership with the Yobe State Government.
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“We are calling on communities to value, protect, and preserve this shared resource. The actions we take today will determine whether future generations continue to benefit from the Komadugu-Yobe Basin,” he added.
The workshop is expected to feature technical sessions focusing on practical solutions, environmental restoration strategies, and community-driven action plans aimed at safeguarding the basin for future generations.
